RCAF History Forum

[Old Dog Flying]

Halifax!

[Moose47]

G'day Barney

Extra points if you tell me what Mk. it is.

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

With the unusual nose it could be a MkII

[Blakey]

Perhaps this very aircraft?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Halifax_V9977.jpg

[Moose47]

G'day

Here is the full picture.

It is a Rolls Royce-powerd Handley Page Halifax B. Mk. II, s/n W7710 and coded LQ-R from the RCAF's No. 405 'Vancouver' (B) Squadron. The aircraft was nicknamed the ‘Ruhr Valley Express’. The squadron was part of RAF Bomber Command's No. 4 Group. On the night of October the 1st / 2nd 1942, it was one of a force of 27 Halifaxes that took part in an operation on Flesburg, Germany. The crew of six Canadians and one RAF airman were killed in action on that night. The aircraft crashed at Liehuss, which is located 6 km's NNW of Flensburg on the border with Denmark. It was a very costly operation with 12 aircraft lost.

The squadron operated the Halifax Mk. II between April 1942 and September 1943. The squadron became part of RAF Bomber Command's No, 8 (Pathfinder) Group on the 19th of April 1943. They would serve as 'Pathfinders' until the 25th of May 1945. The Halifax began to be replaced by the Avro Lancaster B. Mk. I and III in August 1943.

Cheers...Chris

[beech 18]

December 29, 2014

The Beech 18 over the prairies.

[Moose47]

G'day Beech

Thanks, you just made my day!

Do you need any wartime history on this aircraft? I have the record cards as well.

Take care and hope to see more of this beauty.

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

Now if only I had a 1:32 scale kit of the Bug Smasher......

Barney

[beech 18]

Dec 30, 2014

Moose47

It would be nice to know the history of this Beech.
I found the photo on the web and there was no information included.

I did notice that there is no Plexiglas bubble on the top of the fuselage.

Also it has frost shields on the two cockpit sliding windows.
The interior of the Beech was a bit cold in the winter.



Old Dog Flying

A 1:32 scale model would be very nice.

[Antique Pilot]

RCAF Beech Expeditor 3T 1391 was TOS 18.8.44. It was SOS 19.3.62. It then went to France under a mutual aid program.

AP

[paul.baker8]

The Canadair shown was taken in Gibraltar very late 1950's early 1960's. My Shell crew fuelled it.

[beech 18]

Feb 20, 2015

Moose47

I came across a Beech 18 parked in a hangar with a different paint scheme
that is normally seen on R.C.A.F. Beechcrafts.

This Beech was probably painted in the late 1960's or early 1970's?

The lightning bolt was painted above the cabin windows instead of though
the cabin windows as normally seen.

On the fuselage below the windows was painted Air Transport Command.

Was that paint scheme unique to one group or was it common in the R.C.A.F.

Searching on the internet I found the attached photo but no details about
the different lightning bolt.

The photo had below it C-45 Expiditor RCAF serial #1534 A0-N.

[Moose47]

G'day Beechy

It is a Beechcraft Expediter Mk. 3TM from No. 412 'Falcon' (T) Squadron. The squadron was assigned VIP duties while based at R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. The aircraft is shown wearing the short-lived VC codes. (VC-AON)

I will finish this up later today after I come back from my grandson's hockey game.

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day Beechy

The short-lived 5 letter aircraft registration was in response to I.C.A.O. Canada was the only country whose military adopted this system. It was implemented between May 1947 and November 1951. The system was very unpopular and an administrative night mare. So, your photo was taken between the two aforementioned dates.

Cheers

[Moose47]

G'day Beechy

"This Beech was probably painted in the late 1960's or early 1970's?"

The original Royal Canadian Air Force ceased to exist effective on the 1st of February, 1968.

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

If you look at the fins you will see the old WW2 type fin flash which would have been changed by 1952 to the Red Ensign flag. I could look up the change-over date but these old eyes are too bloody tired

Barney

[beech 18]

Feb 22, 2015

Moose47 and Old Dog Flying

Thanks for the information you have provided about the R.C.A.F. Beech.

Attached is a photo of the Beech 18 I mentioned with the lightning bolt painted above the windows.

I can't see any markings on the aircraft at all.
I was also trying to find out where this may have been taken. It is from a photo collection from years ago.
Any possible information you may be able to add.

The aircraft has been parked for some time because of the dust, etc on the fuselage.
The DC-3 in the background looks like there is no paint on it.

[Moose47]

G'day Beechy

I think it and the Dakota have been taken out of service pending disposal. To get that much dust on an aircraft would take a long time. I blew the photo up and noticed the Expediter is packed full of stuff. Did you happen to notice on the starboard wing, someone has written AMAP in the dust? I'm trying to find out if it is an acronym or part of someone's name. I wish I could get at least two digits but there is nothing. The Dakota looks like its been stripped as well. Difficult to say where the photo was taken. Do you have more photos you can post?

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day Barney

The R.C.A.F. started to use the Red Ensign circa June 1956. It replaced the tri-colour fin flash.

Cheers...Chris

[beech 18]

Feb 2, 2015

Moose47

Again thanks for the information and help.

That is the only photo I have of that aircraft or hangar.
It was sent to me by a friend whose Dad had the photo stored away.

His Dad has passed away and we were trying to find out where it might have
been taken. The Beech with the different paint scheme was one thing we
noticed right away. I saw the AMAP writing in the dust. I don't know
what that means either.